She was looking forward to a reunion with her favorite G-boy, but the new people she met were just as special.
Animate
Japan’s biggest anime specialty shop chain warns that not following this advice could turn Christmas into a day of tears.
Specialty shop Animate stays true to its roots as it gets ready to celebrate a big milestone with a big store.
SoraNews24’s otaku reporter heads to one of Tokyo’s biggest anime fan neighborhoods and gets a massive return on his fukubukuro investment.
The case cover hangs from the neck which frees up your hands to trade, display, or easily stow your favorite character goods.
Despite kicking off the new year with a plethora of anime merch, something felt amiss for our Japanese-language reporter’s fukubukuro experience.
Disgruntled 34-year-old woman says she wished the staff had died and Kyoto Animation workers lived.
New 7-Eleven ATMs installed at select Animate locations will feature luscious anime pinup art and compelling lines from top-rate voice actors.
There might be a rare fault in the design, but we have a feeling some fans won’t be exchanging the faulty item as requested.
To celebrate its 20th anniversary this year, the Cardcaptor Sakura franchise is getting a new manga, including a bunch of other tie-in goodies and events this year you don’t want to miss!
With 60 items for just 1,000 yen (US$8.35), Animate’s lucky bag might just be the luckiest of all.
Anime series Yowamushi Pedal has set off on its second season, titled Yowamushi Pedal Grande Road, and its creators have shifted gears with new goods and collaborations to up the game.
Starting with a collaboration with karaoke chain Karaoke no Tetsujin (AKA Kara-Tetsu), the series’ makers also have plans to release men’s boxer shorts, however ironically, at an event targeted for girls. Whether they expect their fangirls to wear men’s undies themselves or are hoping the girls will buy them for their boyfriends, we haven’t got a clue, but we have all the details about this peculiar collaboration after break!
You’ve already been introduced to Yuya Uchida, the attractive worker at the Osaka Nipponbashi branch of Animate, a chain of anime and manga stores in Japan. He has inspired countless Internet debates regarding his status as both an otaku and a hottie, prompting one user to comment, “Hot guys should be banned from watching anime.” We knew we had to go out to Osaka to find this mythical hotaku™ and see for ourselves if he really is as irresistible as the Internet makes him out to be.
Meet Yuya Uchida, part-time employee at Animate, a Japanese chain of large-scale stores that carry a full range of anime and manga-related merchandise. Lately, Yuya has been getting a lot of attention from the Internet and other media for his surprisingly good looks! This anime-loving ikemen (hot guy) is breaking the otaku mold and capturing the hearts of women across the nation. Can a guy be allowed to keep his nerd cred when he happens to be such a looker?




















Japan releases first official sakura cherry blossom forecast for 2026
We traveled almost 400 miles to get popcorn from this ninja machine, but do we regret it?【Photos】
Majority of Japanese women in survey regret marrying their husband, but that’s only half the story
Visiting Japan’s Gyarados Pokémon park in the city with a special connection to Magikarp【Photos】
Newest branch of Japan’s oldest burger chain serves up some crazy huge sandwiches in Ginza
The Yellow Lucky Bag from Village Vanguard is so bad it may damage Japan-US relations
Studio Ghibli releases new “komorebi” plush toys to brighten your days
New adults go wild at Seijinshiki Coming-of-Age ceremony in Kitakyushu, Japan 【Photos】
Japan’s Valentine’s chocolate Slimes let you say you say I love you like the Dragon Quest mascot
Is “The Most Annoying but Most Delicious” ramen from 7-Eleven truly the most delicious?
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Massive manga collaboration bringing 100 years of Shueisha manga to Uniqlo T-shirts【Photos】
Totoro cream puffs and Catbus cookies are finally available in downtown Tokyo
Japan’s kid-friendly ski program is now selling Pikachu snowboards for a limited time only
Starbucks Japan releases new Frappuccino and latte for Valentine’s Day
Japanese vending machine serves up unique drinks at four Tokyo train stations
McDonald’s Japan releases a Mushroom Mountain and Bamboo Shoot Village McFlurry
10 times to avoid traveling in Japan in 2026
Starbucks Japan ready to get Year of the Horse started with adorable drinkware and plushies【Pics】
Our 52-year-old pole dancing reporter shares his tips for achieving your New Year’s exercise goal
Disillusionment at Tsukiji’s tourist-target prices led us to a great ramen restaurant in Tokyo
Ramen restaurant’s English menu prices are nearly double its Japanese ones, denies discriminating
Japan may add Japanese language proficiency, lifestyle classes to permanent foreign resident requirements
Lacquerware supplier to emperor of Japan and Pokémon team up for new tableware
Japanese beef bowl chain Sukiya’s 2026 Smile Box lucky bag basically pays for itself
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Starbucks Japan reveals new sakura drinkware collection, inspired by evening cherry blossoms
Updated cherry blossom forecast shows extra-long sakura season for Japan this year
The Yellow Lucky Bag from Village Vanguard is so bad it may damage Japan-US relations
Studio Ghibli releases new “komorebi” plush toys to brighten your days
New adults go wild at Seijinshiki Coming-of-Age ceremony in Kitakyushu, Japan 【Photos】
Japan’s Valentine’s chocolate Slimes let you say you say I love you like the Dragon Quest mascot
Is “The Most Annoying but Most Delicious” ramen from 7-Eleven truly the most delicious?
10 things Japan gets awesomely right
Nissin develops instant-yakisoba-flavored instant yakisoba UFO【Taste Test】
You can now buy a Japanese train station clock in Japan
Japanese high schools abolish old rules, provide freedom with underwear, hair and dating
Watermelon soup? We test out a strangely alluring recipe from Ajinomoto【Recipe】
Lifehack for Curry Fiends: Get More for Your Yen at CoCo Ichibanya
Japanese vending machine serves up unique drinks at four Tokyo train stations